House and Senate versions of the FY2026 NDAA offer competing visions for the Air Force’s refueling fleet, threatening to disrupt a newly minted modernization strategy.

On Oct. 8, 2025, the United States Senate passed its version of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) after the House of Representatives approved its version of the defense bill earlier in September. While both chambers must still negotiate and vote on a compromise bill before it is signed into law, the 2026 NDAA is poised to substantially alter the structure of the Air Force’s strategic aerial refueling fleet. Contents House and Senate versions of the FY2026 NDAA offer competing visions for the Air Force’s refueling fleet, threatening to disrupt a newly minted modernization strategy. A

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